California Gov.
Gavin Newsom, a Democrat long rumored to harbor presidential ambitions, is once again drawing attention and ridicule not for his policies, but for the way he sits.
According to Western Journal, the latest round of mockery erupted after Fox News host Jesse Watters highlighted Newsoms peculiar leg-crossing habit during an interview with Vice President J.D. Vance, widely viewed as the leading Republican contender for 2028. Watters, speaking on his Fox News program and later on the social media platform X, rolled a clip and then turned to Vance with a pointed question: Have you seen this guy cross his legs?
As Vance smiled, clearly aware of the viral images in question, Watters pressed further, asking, Have you ever seen anyone cross their legs like that?
Vance, laughing at the spectacle, responded with a jab of his own, telling Watters, My legs dont cross like that. The exchange underscored how Newsoms public image has become a magnet for scrutiny, extending beyond his record in California to his personal style and mannerisms.
At a time when many Democrats are quietly positioning themselves for a post-Biden era, Newsoms every move even his posture is being dissected as part of the early 2028 narrative.
The leg-crossing controversy traces back to an interview Newsom gave to Andrew Sorkin, founder and editor-at-large of DealBook, at a summit posted to YouTube last month. During that appearance, Newsom sat in a way that many viewers found unusually contorted for a man, prompting a wave of online commentary and mockery.
Rather than ignore the criticism, Newsoms official X account attempted to lean into the joke, sharing an AI-generated image of the governor in an even more exaggerated pose.
The New York Post juxtaposed the original interview screenshot with the AI image, amplifying the visual oddity for a national audience. Newsoms post, featuring the altered picture on the left, carried the caption, Democracy requires flexibility. The attempt at self-deprecating humor, however, did little to blunt criticism from users on X, who seized on the image to tie Newsom symbolically to the chaos and lawlessness that have plagued his state.
Commenters mocked the governor as emblematic of Californias decline, suggesting he is more closely associated with rampant drug users than with responsible governance. Some critics went further, quipping that perhaps Newsom is getting high on his own supply, a pointed reference to the states permissive climate on drugs and crime.
For many conservatives, the episode reinforced the perception of a leader more focused on image and theatrics than on restoring order, lowering crime, or reversing the exodus of residents and businesses from California.
Beyond the memes and mockery, the brewing 2028 matchup between Newsom and Vance highlights a stark contrast in style and substance. The California governor has tried to emulate President Donald Trumps powerful social media presence, but his efforts come across as contrived and inauthentic, turning him into what critics describe as a digital caricature rather than a commanding political figure.
Where Newsom often appears polished to the point of pomposity, Vance projects a more grounded, relatable persona that resonates with voters tired of elite posturing.
Discussing the looming Democratic primary fight with Watters, Vance took a swipe at the field, including Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris, remarking that the dumbest candidate will probably win. While hardly a detailed policy critique, the line captured a growing sentiment on the right that the Democratic bench is shallow and increasingly defined by ideological extremism rather than competence.
It is only 2026, yet Newsom is already being publicly roasted by a potential rival who seems comfortable turning even a trivial issue like leg-crossing into a broader indictment of Democratic leadership and priorities.
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